Chapter 10: The Clock is Ticking

The marriage is very soon. To be exact, 1 week has passed since Yuho and I go to that paradise place. Such a beautiful place. I still cannot believe that I am a girl that is going to be married next week. You see, I am just 15 years old, well... my soul is a 15-year-old girl but this body is in its 25th year. I wonder what happened to my body or if Junji's soul was swapped with mine. I am writing a journal to track everything that is happening here while the real Junji is nowhere to be found. So she can read something when I am back in my real body.

I can hear footsteps running getting nearer my place. Then someone knocked on my door "Princess Junji."

I stood up and walked to the door and opened it. "What is it that you need Xhanya?" I calmly asked.

I am now used to this place somehow, but it is a little bit boring since there are no gadgets or any entertainment devices. All that there is are festivals.

"Princess Junji, you must get dressed and go to the palace, the Queen wants you there now so you can do further preparations for your marriage."

"Okay, I'll get ready."

Xhanya helped me get dressed and fix myself. She has come with two other servants. I do not know what I am doing, to get things straight I am just 15 years old. I am not ready for this spiritually. But I really do not want to ruin their future and what they have discussed for life so I had no choice. Either I will get married here or I will bring the guilt of ruining someone's life to my grave. Everything was settled so I walked outside my place and there is what they called a palanquin. I think it is the mode of transportation for royalty. A palanquin is a passenger for one which is carried by people on their shoulders, holding the end of the palanquin.

I got in on the palanquin and took my time to mesmerize the beauty of Korea hundred years ago. Little did I know that we were already at the palace.

"Princess Junji... Princess Junji can you hear me?" a blurry voice snap me out of my daydreaming and mesmerization with nature's beauty. It is Xhanya who talked to me.

"Yes, Xhanya? I'm sorry I was a bit out of it." I said.

"We are already here Princess, time to step outside the palanquin."

I step outside and Xhanya leads the way toward where my mother and Yuho's mother are. I saw them sitting having a cup of tea and talking to each other. They turn their heads when they heard footsteps approaching and found me.

"Goodmorning Mother, and Queen Yuki of Xinching Palace." I bowed to them to show respect. Xhanya and the other servants also bowed their heads.

"Oh, enough with honorifics my future daughter-in-law." Queen Yuki politely said with an angelic voice. I can compare her to a white rose which is so subtle yet stunning and beautiful like a living nature. She is like a water flowing richly unto the sea.

"Come and join us, my daughter." Mother told me while using her hand gesture.

I stood straight, walk and sit beside mother in a not-so-unnatural way or etiquette of a princess, as always. But they have been used to it already since it is more than a month that I have been like this after the accident. They do not know that another soul was inside Junji's body, and how would they know that? I tried to explain them to master Quiba and Xhanya but they just thought that I have damaged my head so bad.

"Let us just wait for my dear Yuho, he'll be here in no time." Queen Yuki told us, then sipped her tea in a calm and with so much etiquette.

"I like how you drink your tea mother in law, it is like I am watching nature. You and mother looked so stunning today."

"Oh, dear I appreciate the compliment." Queen Yuki replied with a smile.

"What have you eaten today daughter that you chose to compliment us rather than object to your marriage with Yuho? Are you planning to change your tactic or have a sudden change of heart?" Mother asked and they both giggled.

"Even though I still could not remember a thing since the accident happened, I just thought and realized that I really must love Yuho based on the fact that Xhanya and other people that I have asked are saying that we are really in very good terms before the accident."

"That is why you want to continue this marriage? So... do you mean you do not love Yuho as him and just continuing this based on what other people's thought?" Queen Yuki worriedly asked.

"It is not like that mother in law. I can also sense deep down in my heart that Yuho is the one that I love." I do not know how to explain everything so I will just say something to make their minds at ease.

During our conversation, Yuho already arrived.

"Why did I hear my name so many times while walking through the corridor?" Yuho smiled brightly and go near Junji.

"A pleasant morning my dear mother and Queen Sarah" he spoke politely as he bows her head, then sat beside her mother.

"Nothing son, we are just having a conversation about how Junji has a change of heart after trying so hard for how many days to cancel the wedding." Princess Yuki said.

"That is because there is still love deep in her heart, although it is sealed because of the accident. She does not remember anything but I promised her that I will help her bring back her memories." Yuho replied.

After hours of conversation, finally, it has ended. I do not understand anything about what they have talked about the wedding and everything, feels like I am zoning out of this body and I am just always saying "okay, I agree" to everything without knowing what it is. I feel so exhausted listening and trying to understand things but ended up daydreaming about my real life. I walked out of the room looking so exhausted and pale as a ghost. I walked tiredly outside the palace and do not even want to talk or move my mouth even a centimeter wide.

Yuho runs toward me and asked, "Is everything alright my dear Princess."

I nod as an answer and continue to walk my way out of the palace holding the end of my dress as high as possible so I will not trip and stumble and look like a panda rolling down.

"Are you sure you're alright? You look a little pale."

I looked at him with serious eyes that look very tired, and use my hand gesture to make him go away and out of my sight but he keeps sticking beside me which makes me more exhausted. I could not take it anymore so with the last ounce of strength that I have gathered from all the parts of my body. I then said these words, " I'm tired, no talking, wanna go home already." Then continued to walk.

He then seems to understand my last words because he stopped talking and just accompany me until I get inside my palanquin.

"I'll see you around my Princess" he shouted.

"I'll come and see you around at your place tomorrow morning!" He added.

I look outside the window and waved him goodbye. Then I sleep inside the palanquin because I cannot take it anymore.

"Princess wake up, we have arrived." Xhanya whispered.

I was so out of it that I quickly get out of my palanquin without knowing that I look so.. nasty. My hair is so messy and even have dry saliva on my face. Xhanya quickly fix my hair and wipe everything off my face, and prepared my food and bed so I can rest.

"Thanks a lot, Xhanya"

"This is nothing at all Princess. I am glad of serving you. More glad than what you think of." Xhanya replied and smiled brightly.

I feel a little bit emotional and sentimental so I hugged Xhanya. Then things got weirder. I got these blurry flashes of memories of something that I did not experience in my life... Are these, Junji's real memories? To my surprise, I suddenly pushed Xhanya away from me while holding my head. I feel like my head is getting cut into two.

"Princess, what happened!?" Xhanya worriedly asked.

"My... my head hurts so bad!" I screamed in pain and bend down on my knees. Memories of Junji keep flashing right through my mind like it is being transferred to me.

"What are these?" I asked while still in pain.

"Rocks and blood, and Xhanya...Yuho." I said in my mind, then suddenly I got down to the floor in pain and distress.

"Princess! Princess!" Xhanya shouted.

I can hear her voice muffled while everything I see is like twisting around until I passed out. Suddenly, A beautiful girl appeared in my dreams.

"Aliyah..." The girl said while her voice feels like so far away.

"Aliyah" then everything I hear got clear.

"Wh-who are you?" I asked.

"I'm Junji. Aliyah you need to unlock my memories. Try hard and remember it. I know you can do it" She said worriedly.

"Everything must be in its place, everyone must know the truth." She added.

"The truth?... What truth? And why are you not coming back on your body?" I asked curiously.

Then Junji's blurry vision was slowly disappearing.

"Junji answer me!" I shouted

"What is this truth? Come back to your body! You tell them the truth! I will not unlock it for you!" I angrily said.

I wanna go back to my real body. If she can just come around someone's dream then why can she come back to her own body? That is what I am thinking of.

I still hear her voice talking but it is so muffled and unclear.

"What are you TALKING ABOUT!?" I said.

"You tell them, please." then the voice disappeared.